GR 200
SECRET
34
SECRET
OP
MKK040/31
RE
DESK BY 22110OZ
FM HONG KONG 220825Z MAR 84
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 771 OF 22 MARCH
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
31
32
YOUR TELNOS 518 AND 519: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: FOREIGN AFFAIRS
DEBATE: S OF S' SPEECH.
1. AS SOON AS THE SPEECH HAS BEEN MADE THE HONG KONG PRESS ARE LIKELY TO BE TELEPHONING NEWS DEPARTMENT AND GIS HERE SEEKING COMMENTS ON THE FOLLOWING POINTS.
(1) DOES PARA 4 OF THE SPEECH IMPLY THAT BRITAIN HAS CONCEDED SOVEREIGNTY AND THE RIGHT OF ADMINISTRATION?
(11) DOES THE S OF S' VISIT TO PEKING MEAN THAT A CRUCIAL POINT
HAS BEEN REACHED IN THE TALKS?
(111) WHAT PARTICULAR ASPECTS WIL S OF S BE DISCUSSING WITH THE CHINESE: WILL THESE INCLUDE THE TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY?
C1727/3
(IV) WHO WILL BE GOING TO PEKING WITH HIM (ON THIS SEE MIFT)?
i
HKK027/2
(V) WHY HAVE THE EXACT DATES NOT YET BEEN FIXED?
see 39
38)
2. GRATEFUL TO KNOW DESKBY 23010OZ WHAT LINE NEWS DEPARTMENT PROPOSES TO TAKE ON THESE AND OTHER ISSUED SO THAT WE CAN, APPROPRIATE TAKE THE SAME LINE HERE.
་་
YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
יה
COPIES TO:
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF
PS/HOME SECRETARY
(REPEATED AS REQUESTED)
COUNCILY
D/PLANNING STAFF
/PUSD
D/ED/PUSD
PES. B. (MR TALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER (SIR TAN SINCLAIR
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/R LUCE
PS/PUS
SER J BULLARD
DR Y BARDING-
WILSON
LR FRIGET
SIR C TICKHOL
PS/CHANCELLOR OF 13 DXOSEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERINS
MR BURROWS
MR COLES NO
NEWS D ́
LEGAL ADVS
10 DOWNING ST
MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE
MR GOODALL
CABINET OFFICE
MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
SIR ? CRADOCK BY K195
SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING SEMPERIT
SECRET